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09.04.2015 Feature Article

Africa deserves its Sit-tight Presidents.

Africa deserves its Sit-tight Presidents.
09.04.2015 LISTEN

We often criticize African presidents who stay in power above two terms. There are half a dozen presidents who have been in power for more than 25 years still reigning in Africa. Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Paul Biya of Cameroon, Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea, Museveni of Uganda and Denis Sassou Nguessou of Congo have been in power for generations.

Why blame these few prestigious folks who have simply benefited from the lack of leaders in Africa? Some scriptures say every people deserve the leadership they have, this is being proven right in Africa.

After over 30 years in retirement, Mohamadu Buhari, formerly a military dictator, staged a comeback to take over the Nigerian Presidency through the ballot box. Olusegun Obassanjo did it before; ruling Nigeria as a military dictator and winning power at the polls.

Of over 170 million Nigerians, if the same people keep ruling the country in different capacities, perhaps it is correct to conclude that there are not enough people courageous enough to want to lead their countries. How could anybody claim that Buhari has always been the best person in 170 million Nigerians to rule the country?

The same lack of leaders to lead is replicated in political institutions.

In Cameroon Biya has led the CPDM for 30 years. Ni John Fru Ndi has also ruled the SDF for 25 years. Are they simply the best in their parties or their compatriots have shied away from leading? Young people would be hurt commenting that if they had leaders, they would have changed things. They fail to see the potential for leadership in themselves, rather looking outwardly for others to lead them.

For some rational people I have listened to, they seem to say it is not easy to lead the millions of thieves and crooks in their countries.

Leadership is exactly the act of managing all sorts of people inclined to different excesses and social deviance. The leader is therefore the manager who prays for the wisdom of King Solomon to manage the deviant citizens of his country. The deviant characters: the corrupt, thieves, embezzlers and zealots would always be part of the citizenry, and would never be wished out of existence.

I watch the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) pulling down itself like crabs in a can because everyone wants to designate a leader. The SCNC almost collapsed after the resignation of Ayah Paul from a pressure group he never militated in. The frustration of SCNC members is that no militant wishes to consider himself a leader.

Africa therefore deserves the leadership it has.

Fon Christopher Achobang
Social Commentator, Human rights activist )
The Cameroons

Tel, (237) 99365954
(237) 33160489

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